Spectator catches Joost’s ball at Wentworth

Holland’s number one golfer, Joost Luiten, shot an impressive 5-under par in the second round of the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth (21-24 May).  His round included 7 birdies, three of which were on the last three holes, and the helping hand of a spectator.

 

The golfer from Rotterdam missed the green on the left of the par-3, 10th.  His ball remarkably ending up nestled in the folded arms of a spectator who then had to stand and wait for a referee to come along for a ruling.  A rather amused Joost jokingly suggested that the spectator should run and drop the ball on the green.  While playing partner, Thomas Bjorn from Denmark, said, “Well, done!” to the man for catching the ball, others uttered in enthusiastic cricket fashion:  “Howzat!”

 

The bizarre situation resulted in Joost getting a free drop, but, alas he went on to drop a shot at the 10th for his second bogey of the day.   Even so he soared up the leaderboard to a share of 5th place at one point.  At the end of day two he was tied 8th with Alex Noren ( Sweden) and Ignacio Garrido (Spain).  Italy’s Francesco Molinari standing firm at the top on 10-under par.

 

It just goes to show that victory doesn’t always lie in the lap of the gods.  Sometimes you can find it in the folded arms of an unwitting spectator!

 

The young Korean, Byeong Hun An went on to win the European Tour’s flagship event, his maiden win, setting a new tournament record of 267 – 21-under par (71-64-67-65) six strokes clear of Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) and Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand).  Joost Luiten finished in a blaze of glory with a final round of 67.   His tally of 280 – 8-under par (72-67-74-67) earned him a share of 8th place and a cheque for nearly 80,000 euros. 

Wendy Hoad